Social conservative Trost launching Tory leadership bid

Newly declared social conservative Tory leadership contender Brad Trost may be the most interesting thing that’s happened this week in what has been characterized as a snooze-y race, but it may not help him much in the contest to come, some strategists say.

“Brad Trost is a genuine, principled conservative – a 100% conservative – who believes that Canadians are concerned about their families and deserve leaders who respect them and who can speak for them on ALL the important issues of the day,” says Trost’s new website.

The site states that he’s “an active member of the Parliamentary Pro-Life Caucus and is an uncompromising defender of traditional marriage, most recently leading the fight to retain the Conservative Party’s support for traditional marriage in its policy handbook.”

Powers said there’s a risk that “fringe candidates” become more mainstream and if they are advocating a specific agenda, whether it be social conservative or something else, they may be able to galvanize support more than people within the party would want.

“The danger of a dominant social conservative candidate is the bigger brand damage it could do to the Conservative Party if it’s not balanced out by other voices in there,” he said.

Conservative MP Andrew Scheer — also considered a social conservative — is also rumoured to be considering a run.

Powers suggested that Scheer would be a “lighter” version of what Trost would represent, but if their social conservative voices were the loudest voices in the race, “that would not be helpful to the conservative party or if they become the voice with the most potency they present a danger to conservative party growth prospects.”

There’s a place in every political party for different voices but all the voices need to have some balance because if conservatives are going to succeed going forward they can’t just be focused on social conservative issues or progressive issues, said Powers.

“Standing strong for traditional marriage…that’s [Trost’s] personal belief but it’s not the policy of the Conservative Party and it’s dated…it’s not the only form of marriage. Same as pro-life – I’m sorry that debate is done and when you continue to have debates about subjects that society, for the most part, has moved forward on you look backwards that’s dangerous,” said Powers.

Absent the entry of major names like Peter MacKay with Jason Kenney running in Alberta, candidates like Trost, Scheer and others think they have a shot at winning, said Powers.

When asked about Trost’s prospects, former Stephen Harper aide and long-time conservative strategist Keith Beardsley said “One more example of the real yawner the race has been so far.”

There are five officially declared candidates so far — MPs Michael Chong, Kellie Leitch, Tony Clement, Deepak Obhrai and Maxime Bernier — with Lisa Raitt, MacKay and television personality Kevin O’Leary among those rumoured to be considering runs.